BALTIMORE — Playing three days after running back Ray Rice was released, the Ravens got a pair of touchdown passes from Joe Flacco and rolled past the rival Pittsburgh Steelers 26-6 on Thursday night.
Rice was reaching the end of a two-game suspension for domestic violence when a video of him striking his then-fiancee surfaced Monday. By the end of the day, the three-time Pro Bowl star had been cut by Baltimore and suspended indefinitely by the NFL.
The Ravens (1-1) shrugged off the distraction to bounce back from a season-opening loss at home to division rival Cincinnati.
Bernard Pierce took over for Rice to gain 22 yards on 96 carries as part of a ground game that finished with 157 yards. Flacco went 21 for 29 for 166 yards and two TD passes to tight end Owen Daniels, and Justin Tucker kicked four field goals.
Pittsburgh (1-1) managed only two field goals and committed three turnovers.
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